This week we travel to the Middle East for the Dubai Desert Classic. This is one of the big money events on the DP World Tour . . . A $9 million total purse, the winner takes home just North of $1.5 million. The money increased dramatically in 2022 with the creation of the Rolex Series, the DP Tour equivalent of the PGA Premium Events. This event was first played in 1989, where the champion was Mark James. He took home $75,000 out of a purse of $450,000.
This event has a reputation for strong fields, not in the least because they paid appearance money. Past champions have included Ernie, Seve, Tiger, Jose and Rory.
FUN FACT: When played in 1989, this was the first European Tour event ever held on the Arabian Peninsula. Now one of six . . . the European Tour begins and ends its season in the Middle East. (Is this a good time to discuss Middle East money and golf?)
Four and an Alt
Slinger
Player 1
Player 2
Player 3
Player 4
Alternate
TOTAL
Max
Neiman MC6
Hatton -2
Reed -14
Hovland -5
MCILROY -2
-15
MX2
McIlroy -2
Lowry -3
Hatton -2
Højgaard N -8
PUIG -9
-15
Scrums
Fleetwood -1
Lowry -3
McIlroy -2
Højgaard N -8
HOVLAND -5
-14
Metro
McIlroy -2
Lowry -3
Hillier -3
Hovland -5
FOX 0
-13
Phil
Hovland -5
Lowry -3
Hatton -2
McIlroy -2
FLEETWOOD -1
-12
JJ
Fleetwood -1
Lowry -3
Hatton -2
Hovland -5
PUIG -9
-11
Radar
McIlroy -2
Fleetwood -1
Lowry -3
Hillier -3
HOVLAND -5
-9
Wendy
McIlroy -2
Fleetwood -1
Lowry -3
Hatton -2
NIEMAN MC6
-8
Hedge
McIlroy -2
Fleetwood -1
Lowry -3
HATTON (3) -2
Hovland -5
-5
EMC
Lowry -3
D Johnson MC6
DETRY (3) -5
Perez 4
Manassero MC6
8
“My esteem in this country has gone up substantially . . .
Now when people wave at me, they use all their fingers”
